Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 5 lakh cars: Here's why
What's the story
Hyundai and Kia have announced to recall nearly five lakh cars in the US over a potential fire hazard.
The affected models might catch fire even when the engine is turned off. The company has instructed owners to park affected cars outside and away from other structures until a fix is provided.
Customers will be notified soon and repairs will be done for free.
Context
Why does this story matter?
This is not the first instance of Hyundai and Kia issuing a recall order over faults that could have caused fire risks.
Kia had recalled 3,80,000 units of the Soul in 2019, while 1,23,000 Hyundai Tucsons were also under the scanner.
In the latest recalls, Hyundai and Kia are aware of eight and three fire incidents, respectively.
Models
Which cars are affected?
A total of 4,84,588 cars have been recalled of which 3,57,830 belong to Hyundai and the rest are of Kia.
The recall involves certain units of the 2014-2015 Hyundai Tucson, 2016-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, and the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL.
The models recalled by Kia include some 2014-2016 Sportage crossovers and the 2016-2019 K900 sedan.
Details
A look at the issues and warning signs
The affected Kia cars may face an issue with the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), while the Hyundai models might suffer from a malfunctioning ABS. In both instances, a short circuit may result in a fire.
An illuminated ABS warning light on the dashboard and a burning/melting smell or smoke emanating from the engine compartment are some of the warning signs.
Timeline
Owners will be notified for repairs from March-end
Kia and Hyundai will start notifying the owners of the affected cars to get a free repair from March 31 and April 5, respectively.
The Kia models will get a new fuse for the HECU board, while Hyundai will inspect and replace the ABS module if required.
Customers can head to the NHTSA's website to see if their vehicles are part of the recall.